The Ebbing Tides [Alyssa; V-Day Event]

[STYLE=border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=float:left; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-left: 35px;][/style][STYLE=float:right; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-right: 35px;][/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -8px;]let me save you[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]to redeem myself[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 340px; text-align: justify; background-color: #6E6E6E; padding: 17px; color: #000000; margin-top: 8px; opacity: 0.9;]A dating service. Why the hell did she even bother using it, again? What had possessed her to? Oh, right. Volkner. That didn’t fit her answer, though. She wracked her brain for what it was that he said that influenced her to actually go along with his ridiculous idea. A dating service for Hoenn’s Leader. Really? She wasn’t even lonely. She’d made a good number of friends in a relatively short amount of time, but some, like Volkner, she’d had for at least a few years since she was younger. She was content with a wide circle of friends, some close friends, etcetera. No man had taken her heart – yet – but it wasn’t as though she were actively searching for one to do so.

Does Volkner think I’m lonely…? she wondered absently as she ducked between people in Slateport’s market square. She got hellos from people that recognized her for her fame within the Region due to her accomplishments, and nods for others because of her rank within Nox. She acknowledged them but stayed on a beeline for the café the matchmaking service she’d been wrangled into somehow had recommended and told her to meet the match they gave her.

Watch me not like this guy… she mused. Normally she got along with people, but her luck with a matchmaking service? It was probably laughable. At least I hope it’s a guy… The thought made her cringe inwardly. More of her friends were male than female. It wasn’t to say that she didn’t get along with other women, she just tended to gravitate towards men for whatever reason. It probably started when I didn’t chase after cute pokemon or Coordinating.. she told herself with a grin.

Stepping into the café, she looked around. It was a Valentine’s Day event for the whole restaurant, and almost every table had a couple at it.

Except for one.

A man with red hair, donning a black and red outfit caught her eye.

You have got to be kidding me… she thought, a feeling of dread rising up before the anger she knew would follow.

Walking over to him, she gave no indication that she knew his identity at a first glance.

”Are you here on account of that matchmaking service?” she asked simply.
[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 344px; text-align: center; background-color: #151515; padding: 15px; color: #E7E1CD; margin-top: -9px; margin-bottom: 12px; opacity: 0.9; letter-spacing: 1px;]NOTES,it will, quite soon XD
WORDS, 380

[STYLE=border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=float:left; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-left: 35px;][/style][STYLE=float:right; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-right: 35px;][/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -8px;]let me save you[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]to redeem myself[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 340px; text-align: justify; background-color: #6E6E6E; padding: 17px; color: #000000; margin-top: 8px; opacity: 0.9;]Alyssa barely even needed to be told that he was in fact here thanks to a matchmaking service. How the hell was she, Alyssa Akiyama, Hoenn’s Regional Leader for Nox, Hoenn’s Abyss, paired with Maxie, the leader of the hated Team Magma. Alyssa wanted to place her hands beneath the table at which he was seated and flip it towards the wall so she could grab ahold of his collar and shake sense into him. Truly, she wanted to punch him. She wanted to slap him; she wanted to yell at him at the top of her lungs but in a public place like this that would get them both nowhere but a good number of stares and most likely the polite invitation to leave the restaurant.

”Youre right as rain with that assumption.” she said quietly, clenching her fist by her side. ”Though I must say I can’t believe that I’ve been matched with you. I wonder if the service thinks they’re being funny by seating me with the ex-Leader of Team Magma.” she curled her lip in disgust. ”What, no smart comeback?” she snarled, knowing full well that she hadn’t even given him enough time to respond in the first place. ”I can’t believe this sort of luck. I’ve had the fortune not to meet you until now but it was bound to happen someday. You’re just lucky that I was out of Hoenn at the time you, Team Magma, and equally damned Team Aqua pulled your colossal stunt.” She clenched her jaw, taking a seat across from him with obvious displeasure. ”I would have toppled you sooner than Ruby, Sapphire, Steven, or Wallace.”

She glared at him from across the table. ”The least I expect from you is to realize how completely foolish your actions were and how stupid you are for even so much as attempting them, don’t even get me started on listing them.” Crossing her arms, she sat back, her cerulean eyes alight with fire.
[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 344px; text-align: center; background-color: #151515; padding: 15px; color: #E7E1CD; margin-top: -9px; margin-bottom: 12px; opacity: 0.9; letter-spacing: 1px;]NOTES, (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻)
WORDS, 331

[STYLE=border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=float:left; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-left: 35px;][/style][STYLE=float:right; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-right: 35px;][/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -8px;]let me save you[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]to redeem myself[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 340px; text-align: justify; background-color: #6E6E6E; padding: 17px; color: #000000; margin-top: 8px; opacity: 0.9;]Alyssa’s fingernails gripped her arms, digging into her skin as she listened to him. ”Foolish doesn’t even cut it, my mistake for giving you that impression. It was stupid, absurd, and you are an utter fool for so much as trying to think you could expand the land, and much less control Groudon to do it for you to boot!” She clenched her jaw. ”To be so arrogant as to assume that you could control Groudon in the first place proves that you didn’t think your plan out. A Legendary and sacred pokemon such as Groudon should be too great for any one person to control, much less somebody that has less-than desirable ideas in mind when they want to use it like a tool.

I don’t know when you last checked or not, Maxie, but pokemon are nothing but tools. They have minds and hearts of their own; they have spirits and souls that guide their will. To think you could bend that for your selfish deeds makes you in no place to question me for anything. But since you haven’t spoiled my mood entirely I will humor you and respond that yes, I believe I could have. I was in Johto at the time and only got wind of your antics through letter by exhausted Wingull from my parents. To expand the land mass as you so desperately want as much as Archie wants to expand the seas is stupid. The world is in balance as it is and anything to upset that balance aside from natural causes is never going to end well."
[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 344px; text-align: center; background-color: #151515; padding: 15px; color: #E7E1CD; margin-top: -9px; margin-bottom: 12px; opacity: 0.9; letter-spacing: 1px;]NOTES, (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻)
WORDS, 266

[STYLE=border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=float:left; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-left: 35px;][/style][STYLE=float:right; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-right: 35px;][/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -8px;]let me save you[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]to redeem myself[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 340px; text-align: justify; background-color: #6E6E6E; padding: 17px; color: #000000; margin-top: 8px; opacity: 0.9;]”I did not say that you were the only one at fault. I said Archie’s idea was as stupid as yours, Maxie. Neither the sea nor the land should be tampered with in artificial means and like stated, should only change in size through natural means such as the sinking of borders between land and sea, allowing the sea to creep upon the shores, or the eruption of a volcano which would cause new land when molten rock spews into the water, hardening as it cools, and forming new land.” She sighed quietly, attempting to calm herself.

”The world will grow over-populated at any rate, and pokemon will be displaced, yes. But that is natural for the world to keep itself balance. It has happened before in the long past, and it will happen again in the future. So long as we don’t try to force natural processes things will solve themselves. Not ‘everyone’ will die, although fights will happen. It’s to be expected. Only a fool would think otherwise. If you make more land, people will die just as they would naturally. If you expand the land, pokemon will be displaced – water pokemon. If Archie expanded the seas, similar consequences would have seen. When you two watched on as Kyogre and Groudon fought in Sootopolis, what was going through your head? Disbelief at how terribly you had failed, I hope? Realization that you were wrong, I assume? It’s thanks to Rayquaza that Hoenn was not destroyed by clashing weather patterns – caused by Kyogre’s rains and Groudon’s droughts. There’s no telling what could have come if the fight had existed longer than it did.”

Sighing, she allowed the jist of her tirade to end. Although she got out most of whatever she would have said, she would be ready to counter whatever he said.
[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 344px; text-align: center; background-color: #151515; padding: 15px; color: #E7E1CD; margin-top: -9px; margin-bottom: 12px; opacity: 0.9; letter-spacing: 1px;]NOTES, first post since VB
WORDS, 304

[STYLE=border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=float:left; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-left: 35px;][/style][STYLE=float:right; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-right: 35px;][/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -8px;]let me save you[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]to redeem myself[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 340px; text-align: justify; background-color: #6E6E6E; padding: 17px; color: #000000; margin-top: 8px; opacity: 0.9;]Alyssa practically held her breath as Maxie continued speaking. There was hardly anything she could say that wouldn’t seem like she was re-stating her point without diverting to making new points for herself and risking allowing her temper to flow freely. She didn’t want that, though. Not here, not today. Control yourself, Alyssa. the quiet voice in her mind silently warned her. When he finally spoke after a moment of silence, admitting his wrong and asking to move on, she looked at him. Her cerulean eyes stared into his for a long moment, and she was intentionally allowing the tension to mount between them while she decided.

For this matter, the ball was in her court. However, she felt strangely merciful compared to how she would towards the man sitting before her any other day. This will be brought up again, I am sure. she thought, narrowing her eyes before closing them all the way, a long and tired sigh escaping her body. ”…we may.” she said, unclenching her hands from around her arms and letting her hands drop into her lap. She opened her eyes and looked at him.

”…despite the fact I feel sure we both know quite well who is sitting across from us, we never did proper introductions. I suppose we should do so to start on a better topic, hm?” She paused, taking a moment before continuing. ”I’m Alyssa Akiyama…Hoenn’s Leader among other things and titles.”
[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 344px; text-align: center; background-color: #151515; padding: 15px; color: #E7E1CD; margin-top: -9px; margin-bottom: 12px; opacity: 0.9; letter-spacing: 1px;]NOTES, good, he should be BI XD
WORDS, 241

[STYLE=border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=float:left; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-left: 35px;][/style][STYLE=float:right; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-right: 35px;][/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -8px;]let me save you[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]to redeem myself[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 340px; text-align: justify; background-color: #6E6E6E; padding: 17px; color: #000000; margin-top: 8px; opacity: 0.9;]Mavronski, huh? Well, she’d never had a proper name to go with the face other than just ‘Maxie’. Now I know who to think of when I want to think of one of the worst people in Hoenn’s recent history. She didn’t let the scowl show on her face. Archie’s right there too. She paused in her thoughts for a moment. The rest of Magma and Aqua are there too. I suppose they get a bit of leeway if they dropped from the faction, but even still I hold the fully accountable for all of their actions. Were this not a time of war, and I had reached the top of Hoenn by defeating Wallace, I would see through many actions…but now is not the time for that.

She blinked once to acknowledge his words and couldn’t help but smirk. So his name, too, shared similar letters with a more ‘elaborate’, as he had put it, flair to it. Alyssa Andraste Akiyama. Did they really have to name me ‘Alyssa’? she wondered idly, thinking of her parents for the first time in ages. She shook it off and looked back at him. That was a fair question he had – what was one supposed to talk about on blind dates? The closest they would come today was small talk and getting to know one another more than just Maxie being an object of Alyssa’s hate.

If that…

Sitting back, Alyssa glanced up as the waitress as she laid a long plate between them. It was decorated with an assortment of finely sliced fish pokemon, some she had no doubt were imported from other regions. This was Slateport, after all, and the time of war had only hampered their ability to produce the best. Looking at the waitress curiously with a cocked eyebrow and water raised to her lips, the young woman spoke.

”Finest fish from all the regions, and even Qwilfish on the ends. It’s specially prepared by our licensed chef. This is the introductory dish for the line of meals today for couples.”

The white-haired Leader nearly dropped her glass and coughed violently as the waitress walked away. Although she should have been prepared for a comment like that on this day, it was the last thing she was expecting. Me. Maxie. A couple?! She would have laughed if the notion were funny.

”Ah…pardon me…” she said, coughing once or twice more.

”Get to know each other, you think?” she wasn’t keen on revealing too much about herself to this man, though she would give minimal details.

”Born and raised in Verdanturf. One of the most peaceful places in Hoenn. Your turn.”

She had a feeling this back-and-forth would continue for a while. Poking her fork into one of the fish slices, she popped it in her mouth and chewed slowly.

This is delicious…
[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 344px; text-align: center; background-color: #151515; padding: 15px; color: #E7E1CD; margin-top: -9px; margin-bottom: 12px; opacity: 0.9; letter-spacing: 1px;]NOTES, yay for getting to know each other~
WORDS, 474

[STYLE=border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=float:left; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-left: 35px;][/style][STYLE=float:right; border: 4px solid #151515; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -108px; margin-right: 35px;][/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -8px;]let me save you[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]to redeem myself[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 340px; text-align: justify; background-color: #6E6E6E; padding: 17px; color: #000000; margin-top: 8px; opacity: 0.9;]Wally…that sickly child that had grown into a fine fighter and a wonderful Pokemon Breeder, if she remembered correctly. Green hair, Ruby and Sapphire’s age, constant case of terrible asthma, recently making it into the papers alongside her for rumors? His relatives to live in Verdanturf… she silently responded, keeping her cerulean gaze focused on him as she slowly chewed a second piece of fish. It was indeed good – brilliantly flavored and sliced small enough to be considered an appetite whetter but nothing beyond that. She had a feeling that he couldn’t believe someone like herself had established a massive reputation and claim to fame throughout the regions upon only coming from a tiny town situated at the base of a cave where the wind-swept grass was the prettiest thing you could see alongside wildflowers.

Big names come from small towns… she thought, allowing herself to smirk a bit at the thoughts of other trainers that had managed incredible feats in their childhood. They, too, had come from smaller towns and it was no hidden fact. Red and Blue from Pallet, Gold from New Bark, Ruby and Sapphire from Littleroot, Diamond and Platinum from Twinleaf, while other trainers had followed in similar steps through Unova too. Maybe the dream she’d kept alive through the years wasn’t as far-fetched as she had thought, looking back on it now.

So, Maxie was from Slateport? That was interesting enough. Alyssa found it a bit ironic that he would make the City go in uproar by stealing a submarine out of its port, but she wouldn’t touch that issue. She’d forced any qualms she had with Maxie aside for the sake of the day, and she would not go back on her word. Doesn’t mean I can’t think it… the small voice within her head grumbled.

Her eyes narrowed at the older man at his suggestion. She wouldn’t reveal much on her own if she was just left to not answer on accord of her own decisions, but if he asked, she would consider responding to more than if she was left to talk on her own.

”…fine, you want to get to know me?” she asked, summarizing what she saw coming as a result from their exchange. ”You’re going to have to work for your information. Ask me what you want, I may or may not respond. That much is up to me.”

Crossing her arms, she sipped her water and leaned back, watching him.
[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; width: 344px; text-align: center; background-color: #151515; padding: 15px; color: #E7E1CD; margin-top: -9px; margin-bottom: 12px; opacity: 0.9; letter-spacing: 1px;]NOTES, she challenges him
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